Rating vs. Title

On chess.com are titles awarded for acheiving a certain rating or do you have to go through USCF or FIDE to earn a title?

And if so what is required for a title? Do you have to play a certain amount of games or do you have to get a rating from a chess teacher and he gives you the title?

Well I believe titles can be verified using their respective federation's websites where they post everyone's rating.

Titles tend to be awarded at certain rating point cut-offs. A simple example is USCF Expert which is 2000+ and National Master which starts at 2200.

So where does a lofty rating like that come from?  Blood, tears and sweat mostly. You have to play strong opposition in many a tournament and if you keep winning at a very high level, your rating will shoot up well beyond the average (1400-1600 on most Federations) until you get to a title cut-off point.

If you want to get into specifics (tons of math that I'm not going to dive into) as to how the ratings go up or down, search chess.com for ELO and/or Glicko rating systems.

Hope this helps!

Shiv

You have to play tournaments in USCF/FIDE to get a title. USCF will give you the National Master title if you exceed 2200 rating. In international (FIDE) rated events, if you exceed a rating of 2200 you will get the Candidate Master title, and then for International or Grand Master you need to obtain certain norms.

So you're saying there are single tournaments that determine rating and title? Or do you have to be enrolled with USCF/FIDE or w/e and develop your rating over time by playing in tournaments?

Where would one go to do this?

For FM you need 2300 FIDE rating, or better. For IM and GM titles you need a certain minumum rating and the necessary norms.

Sorry, I should have been clearer. You have to be 'enrolled' and develop your rating over time, by playing in tournaments. Only high-level tournaments are FIDE-rated, however.

 Most of the Open tournaments held in Europe are FIDE rated I believe, the ones with classic/slow time controls.

It's usually the higher-rated players that play in the open section, is it not?

 My experience in Europe has been that most of the tournaments I have played in were one huge section but they had prizes for " best under 2300, best under 2000, best female, etc..... they dont typically divide the tourney into different sections based on ratings as is done in the US . However, they will also often use accelerated swiss pairings for the first several rounds.... this depends a lot on how many players there are.

Everyone has pretty much answered it, but if you are new to the game, I'll simplify.  Basically you join FIDE or your national organization, you will receive a membership card/# which you use to enter events.  You play your games and the results are reported to the TD and chess organization; once you have played like 30 games or so, you will receive an 'official' or 'published' rating as opposed to a provisional rating.  Once this established rating reaches certain plateaus, you may apply for a title.  I don't have one of course, but it is my understanding that a chess title is not given to you, you have to apply and send in like a hundred bucks or whatever, at which point, the title will be granted, and a certificate sent.

Thank you. This answers my question

 I didnt pay a fee or request the NM title, it was just automatically sent to me when I broke 2200 uscf. That was in 1984, I dont know if they have changed. FIDE titles are different and you do apply for them but usually its the players national federation that does this as its in the interests of the federation to have as many fide titled players as possible. The national federation usually also pays the fee involved for the title is my understanding.

Yes, FIDE charges money when you apply for a title. That's official. They say that the FM title was introduced in order to receive more profits...